Electric switch



Fell 17, 1942 H. l.. vAN VALKENBURG 2,273,545

ELECTRIC SWITCH Feb. 17, 1942.

H. L. VAN VALKENBURG ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 22, 1937 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY Feb.r17, 1942. H. L.. VAN VALKENBURG 2,273,545

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 22, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 YLH:

l/vsum mw d y@ A minar/wv Eff BY J 4% W A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 17, 1942 2,273,545 Lnc'rnrc swrrcn Herman L. Van Valkenburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., as-

signor to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 22, 1937, Serial No. 165,023

(Cl. 20G- 104) 15 Claims.

simple and dependable construction and ready adaptability to varying contact arrangements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electromagnetic switch having a stationary contact block mounted at its front face which is readily removable and readily adaptable to conversion into normally closed and normally open contact arrangements.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved form of double throw electromagnetically operated electric switch having front contact blocks with vertically dispose'd stationary contacts together with movable contacts rotating in a. substantially horizontal direction from the back of the blocks in response to substantially vertical rotation of an armature member disposed in back of the blocks.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved movable contact assembly mounting for an electromagnetic relay.

Another object of the invention is an improved form of an electromagnetically operated relay of the held in type of. relatively rigid and dependable construction but with simple and economical parts.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specifications and the appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a multipole double throw electromagnetically operated electric switch according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line II--II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an front elevational view similar is shown as mounted against a back supporting plate or surface I and is comprised of a generally rectangular supporting frame formed by end pieces 2 and 3 and by side pieces l connected together by a generally centrally disposed integral web 5 at the front of the frame. The side portions l are provided with front. flanges 6 also integral with the web 5 upon which are mounted insulating blocks 'I and 8 as by means of studs 9. The contact blocks 'I and 8 are formed to provide a plurality of individual compartments for the individual poles through the switch and in this respect may be considered either to be provided with individual openings extending through the blocks or as being of hollow rectangular shape with vertically extending integral webs II dividing the interior of the rectangle into the elongated individual chambers. Upon the top and bottom front face of the transverse portions of the blocks 1 and 8 are mounted pairs of stationary contacts I2 and I3 as by means of studs I4 having their heads disposed in recesses in the back face of the block. Upon the ends of the studs I4 are disposed terminal nuts I5 for the securing of circuit wires. Terminals I6 are also provided on the front face of the block for connection to the field or energizing circuit of the operating magnet coil to be hereinafter described.

The central web 5 joining the side pieces 4 is provided with a pair of slots through which extend tongues I'I integral with a contact operating plate I8 to which is rigidly secured a laminated armature structure I9. Centrally of the web 5 is disposed a backwardly extending flange portion 2I for attachment to one end of a tension spring 22, the other end of which is secured to the plate I8 and serves to bias the plate toward the web 5, the spring being disposed in a central cut-out portion in the plate I8 as more particularly shown in Figures 2 and 4. The tongues I1 may be provided with pinning wires 23 to positively prevent accidental'removal of the tongues from their holding and guiding slots. A stop 24 rigid with the bottom end plate 3 is provided for limiting the energized position of the armature I9. A tension spring 25 having one end connected to a flange 26 on the contact plate I8 and its other end connected to a threaded pin 21 extends through the bottom plate 3 and is adjustable relative thereto by a nut 28, the spring 25 biasing the armature I9 to its deenergized position and serving to maintain the proper contact pressure between the cooperating contacts which are engaged in the deenergized position ci the switch.

Upon the under surface of the top plate 2 is secured a pair of U-shaped brackets 29 and upon these brackets is rigidly secured a stationary magnet structure 3| of general E-shape and about the central leg oi' which is disposed an operating coil 32. The coil 32 is maintained in place by means of a U-shaped strap 33 mounted over the armature structure and having flange portions 34 engageable with the bottom face of the coil to hold it in place. A sheet of insulation 35 may be mounted upon the stationary magnet supports to shield the magnet and its supports from the movable contact structure. Leads 36 extend forwardly through the insulating block 1 and connect with the plates holding the terminals To the top and bottom surfaces of the contact actuating plate I9 are rigidly secured generally U-shaped insulating portions 31 and 38 as by means o1' studs as shown which extend through ange portions on the legs of the U and through the contact plate Il to rigidly hold the parts together. These U-shaped insulating portions have thickened bight portions 39 upon which are mounted the movable contacts and their supports. 'I'he movable contacts are of two forms as are the stationary contact pairs I2 and I3. 'I'he cooperating contacts shown on block 1 in Figure 2 are of the type to be closed when the insulating supporting portion 39 is moved toward the stationary contacts. The cooperating contacts shown on the block 8 in Figure 2 are of the type to be disengaged when the corresponding insulating support 39 is moved toward the stationary contacts I3. In each case the movable contacts are embodied by plates 4I and 42 which are resiliently mounted in the direction to provide resilient engagement with the spaced stationary contacts. 'I'he support 43 for the contact plate 4I is of generally conventional form and is oi' U-shape with the bight mounted on the insulating portion 39 by the stud as shown and with flanges 44 on the legs of the U spaced apart suiciently to permit the edgewise insertion of the contact plate and preventing removal of the plate when it is turned parallel to the plane oi' the ange. A compression spring 45 is disposed between the bight of the of the contact plate 4I. contact plate 42 is shown in detail in Figure 5 and comprises a supporting base 45 having an integral spacing leg 41 the end of which is return bent to form the rectangular structure generally indicated at 49. Within the rectangle 49 is disposed the bridging contact plate 42 and a compression spring 49 to provide the resilient mounting for the plate 42 in the direction oi' its engagement. 'I'he plate 42 is here inserted longitudinally and is maintained in place by notches in its edges which engage with the sides of the rectangle 48, this interlocking arrangement being more particularly shown at the lower right hand contact in Figure 1.

The operation of the switch should be readily apparent. Upon energization of the coil 32 the armature I9 will be attracted and will rotate the contact carrying plate I8 about its engagement with the web 5, thus moving the upper contact supporting portion 39 toward the stationary contacts I2 and causing engagement of the plate 4I therewith to cause the circuit across the contacts. Similarly, deenergization ot the coil 32 will cause the armature I9 to move downwardly by the ac- The support for the U and the back surface Cro tion of gravity and the tension of spring 25 and will cause the contact carrying plate I8 to rotate in a clockwise direction into the position shown in Figure 2 in which the lower contact supporting portion 39 is directed toward the cooperating stationary contacts.

The contact arrangement herein shown and described is adapted for the ready conversion oi the cooperating stationary and movable contacts into either the normally closed or normally open type. In the device shown in Figure 1 the upper contacts have been illustrated as being of the normally open type and the contacts in the bottom block as of the normally closed type. This designation of the contacts is perhaps misleading in view of the fact that the relay is herein shown and described as the double throw type but it is to be understood that the contact plate 42 and stationary contacts I3 may be used upon the upper block 1 on any of the poles and that the contact plate 4I and the stationary contacts I2 contacts I3, ready use with any desired type of normally open or closed circuit arrangement.

While the switch scribed equally susceptible to single throw construction by omitting the U-shaped member 38 and the contact block 9 and the parts supported thereon and with a subsequent shortening of the supporting frame by using shorter side pieces 4. 'I'his construction is so obvious by the simple means for supporting the relay upon its mounting plate.

biased by tension springs toward the front of the support. The energizing structure here includes two operating coils 56 and 51 which operate an armature or core 59 of the solenoid type. Brackets 59 attached to the under surface of the top supporting plate 2 are adapted to support a mature 58 cooperates. Guiding pin B4 rigid with the armature 59 and preferably formed of some non-magnetic material such as brass slides through an opening in the button 63 to guide the armature in its movement. An insulating cylinamant der 65 may be provided about which the energizing coll 55 is disposed so as to be protected from the moving solenoid amature. The magnetic circuit for the energizing coil 51 is identical to that previously described but reversely disposed and embodies supporting brackets 55, the magnetic circuit formed by the parts 51 and 88, the non-magnetic guide pin 69 and the insulating cylinder 1 I. The central portion of the solenoid 58 is cut away to form the peripheral groove 12 which interlocks with the contact carrying plate 5|.

The operation of this switch will now be described. In the position shown in Figure 7, the parts are mechanically held in this lower position by the toggle arrangement formed by the plates 5| and 52. Upon energization of the coil 55 the solenoid armature 5B will move upwardly and rotate the contact carrying plate 5| in a counterclockwise direction, this movement accompanying the moving of the toggle links past their dead center position in an upward direction and mechanically holding the parts in this upward position regardless of subsequent deenergization of the coil 56. Thus the insulating portion 39 at the top of the switch or relay will now be held in its position toward the cooperating spaced stationary contacts. To move the parts again to the position shown in Figure 'l with the lower insulating portion 39 moved toward its stationary contact it is necessary to energize the coil 51 to pull the solenoid armature 58 downwardly and move the toggle formed by the plates 5i and 52 past dead center position to the position shown in this figure. The mechanical holding in of the switch in its opposite extreme positions is effected by means of the toggle and the force exerted thereon by the tension springs 55 since in moving past the dead center position the toggle elongates and moves the pivoted plate 53 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 against the force exerted by the springs 55. In this' switch, therefore, it is necessary to energize an operating coil to move the switch in each direction and the switch will be mechanically held in each of its opposite extreme positions regardless of deenergization of the coil which operated it to that position.

The cooperating contact arrangement in the switch shown in Figures 6 and 7 is identical to that described in connection with the relay shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and the same adaptability and convertibility of the contacts to normally open or normally closed type is present therein.

While certain preferred embodiment of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

i. An electromagnetically operated electric switch comprising an insulating block having a plurality of vertically elongated, horizontally spaced slots extending from the front to the back face thereof in side by side relation, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts in each slot and having terminals accessible from the front of the block,l movable contacts adapted to bridge said stationary contacts, supporting means for said movable contacts movable in said slots from the back of said block, a magnet structure in back of said block and including an energizing coil and a rotatable armature member operatively connected to said movable contact supporting means to eifect movement of said movable contacts to perform the switching operation.

2. An electromagnetically operated electric switch comprising an insulating block having a central opening extending from the front to the back face thereof, a plurality of vertically disposed plates integral with said block dividing said opening into a plurality of individual openings, a pair of vertically spaced stationary con- Cil tacts in each of said individual openings and having terminals at the front of the block, movable contacts adapted to bridge said stationary contacts, supporting means for said movable contacts movable in said openings from the back of the block, and a magnet structure in back of said block and including an armature member operatively connected to move said supporting means to eifect the switching operation.

3. An electromagnetically operated electric switch comprising an insulating block having a plurality of vertically elongated horizontally spaced slots extending from the front to the back face thereof in side by side relation, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts in each slot and having terminals at the front of the block, a magnet structure mounted in back of said block and including an energizing coil and an armature member, movable contacts adapted to cooperate with said stationary contacts, supporting means for said movable contacts movable in said slots from the back of the block, and an operable connection between said movable contact supporting means and said armature to provide for operation of the movable contact to perform their switching function.

4. An electromagnetically operated electric switch comprising a supporting frame of rectangular shape having a front transverse portion, an insulating block mounted on said frame at the front thereof, stationary contacts mounted on said insulating block, a magnet structure mounted in back of said block and including a field magnet, an energizing coil therefor and an armature member, a bracket connected to said armature and having tongue portions projecting through slots in said transverse frame portion from the back thereof, movable contacts cooperating with said stationary contacts, spring means biasing said tongue portions within the slots in said transverse frame portion. and an operative connection between said movable contacts and said armature to provide for movement of the movable contacts in response to movement of the armature.

5. An electromagnetically operated electric switch comprising a supporting frame having an at least partial front face, an insulating block mounted on said frame at the front thereof, pairs of vertically spaced stationary contacts mounted on said block, a magnet structure mounted on said frame in back of said block and including a field magnet, an energizing coil therefor and an armature member, the pole faces of said field magnet being directed downwardly, a bracket connected to said armature and having tongue portions extending through slots in said at least partial front face of said frame from the back thereof to provide a pivotal mounting for the armature, openings in the back face of said block communicating with said pairs of stationary contacts, movable contacts adapted to bridge the stationary contacts, and supporting means for said movable contacts disposed between the back face of said block and said magnet structure and having portions movable in said openings to move the movable contacts into and out of bridging relation with the stationary contacts, said movable contacts rotating forwardly and backwardly in response to upward and downward rotating movement of the armature.

6. In an electromagnetically operated electric switch, an insulating block having a plurality of vertical slots extending from the front to the back face thereof, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts disposed in each of said slots and having terminals at the front of the block, a magnet structure in back of said block including anv energizing coil and a rotatable armature, an insulating support mounted to move with said armature and disposed between the back of the block and the magnet structure, movable contacts mounted on said support and adapted to move in said slots into and out of engagement with said stationary contacts, said block being readily removable from the front and said stationary contacts being readily converted into either normally closed or normally open contact types, and interchangeable movable contact mountings to provide movable contacts of the normally open or closedtype to cooperate with the stationary contact type selected.

7. An electromagnetically operated double throw electric switch comprising a supoprting frame, a pair of vertically spaced insulating blocks mounted on said frame at the front thereof, stationary contacts mounted on said blocks and having terminals at the front faces of said blocks, a magnet structure mounted on said frame in back of said blocks and including an energizing coil and an armature member, movable contacts adapted to cooperate with said stationary contacts at the opposite extreme positions of said armature member, and spring means biasing said armature in a direction opposite to its direction of attraction by said magnet structure to maintain contact pressure in one extreme position of the armature.

8. An electromagnetically operable double throw electric switch comprising a supporting frame of generally rectangular shape having a horizontal centrally disposed connecting web, insulating blocks mounted at the front of said frame above and below said central web, stationary contacts mounted on said block and having terminals on the front face of said blocks, a magnet structure mounted on said frame in back of said blocks including an energizing coil and an armature member, means pivotally mounting said armature member upon said web portion, a pair of oppositely directed insulating carriers mounted to move with said armature and disposed one in back of each of said blocks, and movable contacts mounted on said insulating carriers and adapted to cooperate with said stationary contacts in response to movement of said armature to perform the switching operation.

9. An electromagnetically operated double throw electric switch comprising a supporting frame, insulating blocks mounted at the front of said frame, a plurality of vertical slots in each block and extending from the front to the back face thereof, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts in each of said slots and having terminals at the front of the blocks, a magnet structure in back of said blocks including an energizins coil and a movable amature, a pivoted insusaid element lating support disposed in back of each of said blocks and having movable contact mountings adapted to be moved in said slots, movable contacts on said mountings adapted to cooperate with said spaced stationary contacts to perform the switching operation, and an operative connection between said armature and said pivoted supports.

10. An electromagnetically operated double throw electric switch comprising a supporting frame of generally rectangular shape having a central horizontally disposed connecting web at the front thereof, a pair of insulating blocks mounted at the front of said frame above and below said web, a plurality of vertical slots in each of said insulating blocks and extending from the front to the back faces thereof, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts in each slot and having terminals at the front of the blocks. movable contacts adapted to bridge said stationary contacts, a magnet structure in back of said blocks and including a field magnet, an energizing coil and an armature member, the pole faces of said eld magnet being directed downwardly, an operating element connected to said armature and pivotally mounted in said web, oppositely directed insulating carriers mounted on said element and extending in back of said blocks, and means mounting said movable contacts upon said carriers, said mounting means being movable within said slots in response to movement of said armature.

11. An electromagnetically operated double throw electric switch comprising a supporting frame of generally rectangular shape having a central horizontally disposed connecting web at the front thereof, a pair of insulating blocks mounted at the front of said frame above and below said web, a plurality of vertical slots in each of said insulating blocks and extending from the front to the back faces thereof, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts in each slot and having terminals at the front of the blocks, movable contacts adapted to bridge said stationary contacts, a magnet structure in back of said blocks and including a field magnet, an energizing coil and an armature member, the pole faces of said field magnet being directed downwardly, an operating element connected to said armature and pivotally mounted in said web by means of tongue portions on the element extending through slots in said web from the back thereof, spring means biasing said tongues within said slots, oppositely directed insulating carriers mounted on and extending in back of said blocks, and means mounting said movable contacts upon said carriers, said mounting means being movable within said slots in response to movement of said armature.

l2. An electromagnetically operated double throw electric switch comprising a supporting frame of generally rectangular shape having a central horizontally disposed connecting web at the front thereof, a pair of insulating blocks mounted at the front of said frame above and below said web, a plurality of vertical slots in each of said insulating blocks and extending from the front to the back faces thereof, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts in each slot and having terminals at the front of the blocks, movable contacts adapted to bridge said stationary contacts, a magnet structure in back of said blocks and including a field magnet, an energizing coil and an armature member, the pole faces of said iield magnet being directed downwardly, a bracket connected to said amature and pivotally mounted in said web, oppositely directed insulating carriers mounted on said bracket and extending in back of said blocks, means mounting said movable contacts upon said carriers, said mounting means being movable within said slots in response to movement of said armature, and spring means biasing said armature member into its deenergized extreme position to maintain adequate contact pressure on the contacts engaged in this position of the armature.

13. An electromagnetically operated electric switch of the mechanically held in type comprising a supporting frame, an insulating block mounted on said frame in the front thereof, stationary contacts mounted on said block and having terminals at the front face of said block, a movable contact carrier mounted at the back of said block, a toggle link pivoted to a rigid portion of said frame and connected to said movable contact carrier, a second toggle link pivotally connected at one end to said rst link and at its opposite end to a movable part on said frame, means biasing said movable part in a direction to collapse the toggle at both sides of its dead center position, an electromagnetic actuator in back of said block including a pair of energizing coils, and armature means adapted to be attracted by said coils in opposite directions to effect movement of said toggle links. in opposite directions through their dead center position.

14. An electromagnetically operated electric switch of the double throw, mechanically held in type comprising a supporting frame of generally rectangular shape having a transverse front connecting web, a pair of blocks disposed at the front of said frame above and below said transverse web, a plurality of stationary contacts mounted on each of said blocks and having terminals at the front faces of the blocks, a movable contact carrying means disposed in back of each of said blocks, a toggle link pivotally mounted in said transverse web from the back thereof, said carrying means being operatively connected to be moved in response to movement of said link, a second toggle link having one end pivoted to said first link, a member pivoted at theback of said frame and biased in a forward direction, the opposite end of said second link being pivotally connected to said member whereby force is exerted tending to collapse the toggle at both sides of its dead center position, an electromagnetic operator disposed between said blocks and said pivoted member including a pair of energizing coils, and armature means adapted to be attracted in opposite directions by said coils to effect movement of said toggle links in opposite directions through their dead center positions.

15. An electromagnetically operated electric switch of the double throw, mechanically held in type comprising a supporting frame of generally rectangular shape having a centrally disposed transverse web at the front thereof, a pair of insulating blocks mounted at the front of said frame above and below said web, a plurality of vertical slots in each of said blocks extending from the front to the back faces thereof, a pair of vertically spaced stationary contacts in the blocks having terminals at the front of the blocks, movable contacts adapted to bridge the stationary contacts, supporting means for said movable contacts disposed in back o said blocks and having portions movable in said slots, a. toggle link having one end pivoted in said transverse web from the back thereof, said link being operatively connected to said movable contact supporting means to effect movement thereof in response to movement of the link, a second toggle link having one end pivoted to said rst link, a member pivoted at the back of said frame and biased in a forward direction, the opposite end of said second link being pivotally connected to said member whereby a bias is applied to said toggle tending to collapse it at both sides of its dead center position, an electromagnetic actuator mounted between said blocks and said i member including a pair of energizing coils, and an armature member adapted to be attracted in opposite directions by said coils to eiect movement-of said toggle links in opposite directions through their dead center position.

HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG. 

